The World of Pedal Tuners Is Actually Very Deep

Hello everyone! Kaoru the composer here!

Today, I would like to talk about an essential item for guitarists and bassists — the pedal tuner.
Tuners come in a variety of forms, such as clip-on card-style and rack-mount types. But this time, let’s focus on the pedal type!

■ What Is a Pedal Tuner?

As the name suggests, a pedal tuner is a tuner in pedal form.
Many models not only allow for instrument tuning, but they also come equipped with features like mute functionality and power supply output.

A key feature of pedal tuners is that they detect the signal received through the Input jack to allow for very accurate tuning.

Additionally, since they can be integrated into an effects pedalboard, there’s no hassle in setting them up.
Being able to operate them while standing and their excellent visibility are also major advantages.

However, some models don’t run on batteries, so be sure to check that when making a purchase!

■ How to Choose a Pedal Tuner

With so many manufacturers offering a wide range of products, it can be hard to know which one to choose.
So here are some key features to look out for when making a purchase!

○ Tuning Flexibility

There are various types of tunings beyond just standard tuning.
If you usually only use regular tuning, you might not need to worry too much.However, if you often use alternate tunings, it's important to make sure the tuner can handle them.
Also, a fast response time is important—it reduces stress and lets you tune quickly and efficiently.

○ Polyphonic Mode

One of the most talked-about features in recent tuners is the polyphonic mode.
This function allows the tuner to detect and display the pitch of multiple strings at once.
In other words, you can strum all open strings on your guitar at once and instantly see the tuning status of each string, which is an incredibly innovative feature.

It saves a lot of time and makes it easier to grasp the situation at a glance. However, it's worth noting that most of these tuners do not yet support extended-range (multi-string) guitars.

○ Strobe Mode

The strobe mode displays tuning deviations as movements of light, allowing for ultra-precise tuning. This mode is particularly helpful for those who require high accuracy in their tuning.

○ Mute Function

This is a standard feature in most modern pedal tuners.
While tuning, the mute function stops the signal from being sent to the amplifier, allowing you to tune quietly—even during live show MC breaks.
It’s also incredibly useful when switching guitars mid-performance.

○ Power Supply Function

Some pedal tuners come with the ability to power other effects pedals, essentially combining a power supply and a tuner into one unit.
This helps you to build a more compact and efficient pedalboard, making your setup more convenient and streamlined.

○ Calibration (Reference Pitch)

This refers to the range of reference pitches the tuner can be set to.
For rock and pop music, setting it to 440Hz is generally fine.
For acoustic piano or concert band settings, 442Hz is often preferred.
That small difference of just 2Hz can significantly affect the quality of the overall sound.

Most pedal tuners allow you to adjust the calibration, but the ease of adjustment can vary between models—so be sure to check before buying.

○ Tuning Accuracy (Cents)

Tuning accuracy is measured in units called “cents”.
One cent represents one-hundredth of a semitone (the equivalent of one fret). The smaller the number of cents, the more accurate the tuning.
Honestly, only those with a very keen sense of pitch will be able to tell the difference.
So, it's not something to worry about too much!

We've covered some pretty detailed aspects here.
The later parts, in particular, are more suited to advanced players, so don't stress too much about it! (lol)

Now, let's take a look at some of the recommended products available at Sound House!

BOSS (Boss) / TU-3 Chromatic Tuner

The successor to the highly popular TU-2, which has become a classic.
BOSS's unique design features a large footswitch, making it difficult to press the wrong button.

The curved meter makes it easy to monitor tuning status, and the newly added high-brightness mode ensures excellent visibility outdoors.
It supports flat tuning up to 6 semitones.

Additionally, using a dedicated cable, you can supply power to up to 8 devices.

BOSS / TU-3W WAZA CRAFT Tuner

This model carries over all the features of the BOSS / TU-3 Chromatic Tuner but with the addition of a built-in buffer.
If you're concerned about tone loss that can occur when connecting multiple effects, this model is a great option!

Here’s another simple and compact product!

BOSS / TU-3S

This model omits the footswitch, so it does not have a mute function! Please note!

KORG / PB-CS Pitchblack Custom Black

A compact pedal tuner equipped with a large display and offers excellent visibility.
It specializes in strobe tuning, allowing for highly accurate tuning.

Additionally, it has an isolated power supply circuit, making it a high-performance power supply as well.

This is a brief explanation of pedal tuners and some recommended products.
I hope it’s clear that pedal tuners are very deep and interesting items.
When purchasing, use this article as a reference!

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